One year in Great Britain!

A year in UK but I still feel giddy and excited everyday. There are times when I’ll tell my wife “still cant believe we’re here”. It was just an impossible dream i thought but with hard work, dreams do really come true. 

Our UK journey all started from that time Hazel got home from work exhausted and upset. She told me she wanted to resign. and the only option we have is either go back to the Phil or migrate somewhereelse. I myself was never happy in my work, It wasnt happy and wasnt fulfilling. So when my wife said she didnt want to be there anymore, I really tried my best to pass my IELTS and i did! (Original plan was I will go to UK first then i’ll get her but then she took ielts too and passed). Self reviewed for 3 months and took the IELTS in April, received my result in May 2019. That year was the best year for me to apply for UK because there is no need for a current hospital experience as long as I am a registered Nurse in the Philippines. 

In June 2019, I was interviewed via skype for Derby trust. It was my first UK interview, and I don’t know, after passing the ielts I just felt more confident with interviews. Questions were the things we generally do in wards, infection control, team work, how i see myself in the future etc. Right there and then she hired me and told me to proceed in doing the next steps. The only problem with derby was their next deployment would be March 2020, so although I accepted the job, i still looked for other agency. 

I also had a rejections, it was an experience i tell you. And it wasnt even the employers who rejected me, She was just an agent from a Trust in London. She told me that she think i couldnt cope with their busy ward as i worked in a clinic and that my only point of entry to UK is through a homecare. I wasn’t devastated cause I was already accepted in derby and just having this interview as fall back however i cant say i was not hurt. How could they judge how a person’s worth just cause of the work experience? and she was like degrading those in homecare. I have lots of respect to those who work in homecare, but that agency reiterated that thats my only entry to UK as if its so low. Well, the joke’s on her now. 

By August 2019, All my papers and credentials are OSCE ready and I can fly anytime to UK, then Hazel took her IELTS in September and she passed! I passed her CV in Derby and they said they have a long queue so I retrieved my application cause i will not fly without her. We searched for Trust who can hire both of us. 

In September 2019, We were interviewed in Blackpool Trust. to tell you honestly, i was skeptical at first. cause when i searched about blackpool in the internet, it wasnt pleasant. we did the interview anyways; and they loved us. before the end of that day, we received our offer letter. The only catch is, we needed to go back to the Philippines to process our papers. We accepted the offer, but told them we need to render 2 months notice to our present employers. 

During those time, my wife and I still looked for other agencies that could fly us directly from Qatar. We did have skype interview with Luton and dunstable Trust, and we were both hired again. We were advised that we need to be out of the country before december 2019 because the next deployment would be Feb 2020. In between those times, Blackpool was still following us up, we still didnt decline them. Unfortunately, they couldn’t give Hazel a visa unless her credentials are OSCE ready, so we withdrew our application. and just focused in Blackpool. 

November 27, 2019, We went back to the Philippines, and literally just when we arrived, We received our visa. That’s when we really thought that Blackpool is really for us. After the christmas holiday, we processed our visa and made appearance to the british embassy. and on Feb 19, 2020 we flew from Manila to Machester via Emirates. 

We arrived in Blackpool on Feb 20. It was freaking cold 😂

Blackpool was not as bad as what we can read from the internet. They said it is always gloomy and wet here, but as i am typing this, i can feel the warmth of the sunrays. I fell inlove with the town. Blackpool has a slower pace compared to the cities and most towns. No traffic and very quiet. I may not have explored much because of the pandemic and all, but I can say that blackpool would be where i build my future family. 

I started my work in Ward 24 (Post Acute Care) of Blackpool Victoria hospital on March 2020 just before the pandemic and lockdown started. Eveyone was just lovely and very welcoming. I can feel the support from my supervisors, to my colleagues and it was not hard to adjust after all. It was tiring but I am happy. I am happy because i’ve wanted to go back and work in the hospital for a long time and now i’m doing what i love to do, care for people, to multitask, running around, being busy, practicing my learned skills and passion. However, not everyday is a wonderful day.  We were the first ward to be converted into Covid ward and yes it was horrible. With lack of staff due to covid afflictions plus anxiety that we might get the virus, it was very exhausting. There were times I broke down, cause while working I was  also preparing for our qualification exam. With that being said, there is still no place I rather be. I have meet new people and some I can say will be friends for life. 

One epitome point last year was when I visited the Harry Potter  Studio in Watford. I almost cried when i was about to enter the studios. Its not because im the biggest Harry fan.. (or am i not?) but because It was just a DREAM. Now it was a dream turned to reality. Sounds cheesy but hey, there’s always a kid in me. 

and Did I tell you, I was seen on british telly singing  alongside with celebrities I adored growing up 😍 Not such a bad year. 

It took so long for us to became UKRN because with the pandemic, all testing centers were closed. I became qualified and Registered Nurse in November, and after i had my pin, i worked independently as Staff Nurse... and the rest is history xx 

That was my year so far. I realized that our dreams are valid regardless of how old or young we are. Lets keep chasing them.  To my friends who were nurses but chose to be otherwise because there were no opportunities for us before, If you want to go back being a Nurse, this is the right time for you to migrate here in the UK as we could all have our second chance here. Just send me a message if you have questions. Happy to help! 

Road to UK Phase 1 - IELTS AND CBT

June 10, 2019
4 PM


Last night,  I received my IELTS Result! The truth is, I took the exam last April 27, 2019 and I received my result on May 13, 2019. I got 6 on writing!! but I was very positive and confident of my writing subtest so i opted for remarking and finally I got the score that I needed to start my UK journey. I literally cried and hugged my wife, cause the waiting game was pretty exhausting. My wife also did have the remarking but until now, her score did not come.

This blog is more of my examination experience. for more tips, follow and read IELTS LIZ or E2 Jay, Ielts buddies. There are many sites to choose from so just choose the one you're most comfortable with.

First Step to the UK Journey. The IELTS.

Oh Man,  I took the IELTS 3 times before I hit the band score I needed. I first took it May of 2017, and Although I get a high score in Listening and Reading, I only got 6.5 both in writing and speaking. It frustrates me at first for someone who writes a blog and still didn't get a 7, and that time we didn't know we can go for remarking.We didn't have the means to take again because I got sacked, so the UK dream was on hiatus. To be honest, I didn't have any idea on how to apply, I just follow the lead of my wife. She just told me the our ticket is to pass the IELTS.

SELF- REVIEW AND IELTS PRICE

I only self reviewed so there is literally no one I can ask about the IELTS especially how the exams are conducted here in Qatar and keeping it secret to our friends also did not help. I think both the British Council and IDP provides a crash course to help the students achieve the band score they needed but t'was very expensive and we can't afford that. The exam itself is very expensive. 950 QR for IELTS Academic, and 920 for IELTS UKVI.

After quite sometime, I took again the exam on November 2018. A day before the release of my scores, The Nursing and Midwifery Council announced that they will accept a band score of 6.5 in writing as long as the rest will be 7, and over all band score of 7 and above. My spirit lifted because I got 6.5 the first time, so maybe i'll get it this time.. But i wasn't very confident of my writing. I have plenty erasures because i used ballpen (which is a No No! I must say). So yeah, when I got my scores I had 6 on writing. Still hoping for a change, I opted for remarking which cost 450 QR but is reimbursable once there is a change in your score. Unfortunately, my score remained/unchanged.

My last exam, I took the UKVI Academic IELTS. This type of IELTS is actually used for visa and immigration purpose, but also can be used to register as a Nurse in NMC so its like hitting two birds with one stone because when you take the regular IELTS, eventually you need to take UKVI when you are applying for a visa (although only band 4 score is allowed for migration purpose)

WHAT I DID WRONG IN MY PAST EXAMS

On Writing, maybe I didn't have enough compound words and big words. to be honest, the first part of the writing test was the hardest for me. Yes, all the data are already present, but it was hard for me to sequence and compare data. Luckily, on my UKVI, We had a diagram about the process of making biogas. In my second writing as what I've said, I used ball pen, and i have erasures after erasures.

On the speaking part, I was actually more confident of my first try that's why receiving a 6.5 was a total shock to me. In part one where he asked me about my work, about birthdays, and neighbors, I was actually surprised that i did well. In part 2 although I was able to talk for two minutes, I did something terrible. In Part two, You will be given a cue card and must speak about it for 2 minutes and you will be given one minute to write some notes before speaking but because of my adrenaline, i wrote only for 30 seconds and told the interviewer that "I'm ready". He then made the "wait" hand sign. Then when its time for me to speak, I finished in 1 min 30 sec and i paused a little, and the examiner waived "continue" hand sign. so I did continue but i should have not paused.  After the exam, I found out online that I should take time to write the notes and waited for the examiner to stop me and that it may have affected my score. On my second try, I corrected myself manytimes in the part 1. I have like a itchy throat as well so I needed to cough and say sorry often. Oh man.

Here is my general tips;

For listening and reading

1. Write all your answers in capital letters. (except for email address which the audio will tell if need in all caps or not) . There are questions that are in sentence form and they are also checking for proper sentence writing eg The world is a better ____. if you put "Place" with a capital letter P, the answer is wrong. but if you put PLACE, it is accepted as long as you write the whole test in all CAPS.

2. Read the questions first before answering  and try to assume the answer.
eg Telephone number: ____ (so anticipate that the answer is Numbers.)

3. When the Audio says, "you have half a minute to read the questions), Do it. and read the question faster in last part (31-40) because 30 sec is not enough.

3. Read instructions. If it says write the word TRUE, you should not put T. if it says write the correct letter, just write the letter. If it says No more than One word, you should only answer one word so if what you heard is "the world", remove the article "the".

4. Listen very carefully for the plural forms of the word. if the answer is sweets and you put sweet, then you loose a point.

For Speaking

1. Be fluent as much as possible, and elongate your answers. you must do all the talking and ALWAYS elaborate your answers. As much as possible do not wait for them to ask "why?"
eg Do you like sunglasses?
Yes I do because.... or Yes I do especially during..,..

2. The first Questions would be about your work/study, Hometown, and where do you live so you must practice these precisely as a good start on speaking test will guarantee you a better band score.

3. On part two, Write down notes for exact one minute and talk for 2 minutes without pause. There will be a guide questions on the cue card, but it does not mean you need to answer it (see below) but it would also help you to sequence your speaking. The only problem with this is you will be speaking in simple sentences as if you are answering a questions 1 to 3.

Lets take this one as an example. When relying on the cue card, the tendency is you will speak like this " I'd like to talk to you about a meal that my friends and I enjoy and that is spagetti. We eat it last thursday. I share it with my friends Tom and Jerry. We talked about our lives at work. Im happy to eat with friends because". 

So remember just use it as a guide, not necessarily answering it. You can say, How'd you come up with decision to eat spagetti, how spagetti is cooked, how do your friends feel about spagetti etc. If you want to use the whole cue card you must elaborate your answers cause these questions will only take one minute to answer. You can say " We last dine last thursday and we choose spagetti because it is our comfort food. My friends, Tom and Jerry, love spagetti  and they can eat it for the entire day without complaining" bla..bla..

It doesn't matter if what you say makes sense as long as you don't repeat what you say,. If you ran out of things to say, then say another thing or another answer, like "another food we love to share is this filipino dish called adobo"

4. Speaking test is informal so don't be afraid to use common languages such as "I don't think so", "Ofcourse", " I guess not". Use contraptions like doesn't, isn't. 

5. It also helps to put adverb on every sentence. For example Do you think its important to drink water? You can say, I ABSOLUTELY believe or It is extremely imperative.

6. Paraphrase the question. If they ask you "Do you like" you can say, "I love" or "I am very amused". 

For writing, 

I believe that I am not the right person to give tips for this one so read materials and practice writing everyday.

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TEST OF COMPETENCE PART 1- COMPUTER BASED TEST (CBT)

The next step to the UK Journey is the CBT test. Fortunately you can take CBT first and take the IELTS after and vise versa. The test consists of 120 Questions and you need to have 75 Correct answers to pass. Its ways easier nowadays unlike before where you need to pass 60% overall, but 90% of the critical questions must be answered cause if you didn't reach 90% in critical questions, you'll fail the exam regardless if you have 60% overall.

How to book a CBT test.

1. You need to register for a NMC account. Go to  https://ireg.nmc-uk.org
2. Once registered, Log in to your account then click "Start New Application".
3. Scroll to the bottom, click "Apply for Registered Nurse (Adult General)
4. You must answer the eligibility test on your NMC portal.
5 You will receive an email about passing the eligibility test and will inform you to wait for the Pearson Vue email to proceed booking your exam. The email will come to you in an hour to 48 hours. Mine came in 30 minutes.
6. Click the link provided by pearson vue, and create account.
7. Click "View Exams" and choose "RN1: Registered Nurse- Adult"
8. Click "schedule this exam"
9. Choose preferred date and place

I started reviewing for the CBT from the moment I received my IELTS remarking. I took the CBT on July 15 and checked my results 15 minutes after online. There are several materials available online, but the only problem is that there are no rationale for answers and there are some sites with same question but different answers.

Tip1: Choose the answer that makes more sense. Believe me, you will encounter questions and answers that the sites says correct but is really nonsense.
Tip2: Find rationale as you go along the question and do not merely memorize the answers. Remember also, to look for answers by the UK, cause US have different rationales.
Tip3: Do not overdo, and Overthink. Althought ROYAL MARSDENE book is a good read, it is a thick book so you will not have time to read that.

My review materials are 1100 CBT Questions, The notebook, FULL CBT REVIEWER, MentorMerlin, and the NMC CBT app.

On my next blog, I will share you my Employer interview process and the Phase 2 of the application. I hoped I inspired some of you and helped you a little with my tips. For reviewers, Drop your email on the comment below and i will send you! Good luck, future UKRNs.